Four New Hot Spots to Try this Weekend

MockingbirdUptown, Oakland
You can place the cooking of William Johnson (Zuni) and Melissa Axelrod (Delfina) roughly in the rustic Cal-Med genre, moving as it does from Moroccan chickpea soup to duck liver mousse with rhubarb jam to herb-perfumed roast chicken that would play well on farm tables the world over. The space, which shares a courtyard with the New Parish nightclub, is sparsely furnished but filled with the grainy strains of old jazz records. 1745 San Pablo Ave. (at 18th St.), Oakland, 510-290-0331 —J.S.

Fog CityEmbarcadero, San Francisco
Built into the bones of the old Fog City Diner that sold overpriced cioppino for years, this new version bears little resemblance to its predecessor. Real Restaurant Group (Bix, Picco) removed the dividing wall, allowing the glowing bar to fill the center of the room. For dinner, graze through paprika-sauced trumpet mushrooms, sake butter–braised clams, and a whole chicken roasted to crispy, juicy perfection. For dessert, French crullers and Straus frozen custard are worth the splurge. 1300 Battery St. (at Embarcadero), 415-982-2000 —C.A.

Izakaya KouFillmore, San Francisco
This Korean-inflected izakaya stakes its claim in a part of town that’s long been stagnant on the culinary front. To find the gems, venture away from the expected sashimi and yakitori. Instead, order soft, slippery tofu topped with tiny dollops of uni, oshinko, and mentaiko. A slab of eggplant slathered in sweet miso and grilled tastes as rich as roasted meat. The large wood-lined space offers a few tatami rooms where customers can get comfortable with the restaurant’s rather extensive sake selection. 1560 Fillmore St. (at Geary St.), 415-441-9294 —S.D.